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The Postcard: A Novel
On any given Sunday morning, April Ashcroft can be found indulging in a guilty reading secrets on the PostSecret.com website. However, when she comes “Everyone who knew me before 9/11 believes I’m dead,” suddenly her certainty that her twin sister died twenty years earlier on September 11th is irreversibly shaken.
As she embarks on a secret search for her sister, April's life will unravel, throwing into question the twins' tight bond, their upbringing, their family expectations, and most of April's adult choices. This page-turner will confront readers with how secrets transform our relationships, burden their owners and those who learn about them, and, above all, the consequences of unfortunate mistakes that can never be undone.
As she embarks on a secret search for her sister, April's life will unravel, throwing into question the twins' tight bond, their upbringing, their family expectations, and most of April's adult choices. This page-turner will confront readers with how secrets transform our relationships, burden their owners and those who learn about them, and, above all, the consequences of unfortunate mistakes that can never be undone.
343 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 31, 2025
125 people are currently reading
75 people want to read
About the author
Mariela Dabbah
13 books1 followerI’ve been writing stories since I was nine years old.
It all started with a birthday gift: a book from my beloved Oma. And then another, and another—for every birthday that followed. From Anne of Green Gables to The Chronicles of Narnia and Heidi, I devoured novels and soon felt inspired to write my own.
At nine, not yet able to use a typewriter, I handwrote my first series of novels on large, unlined orange sheets of paper my father—an orthopedic surgeon—brought home from the hospital. These sheets, meant to separate X-ray films, became the canvas for my diagonally written stories, complete with illustrations, stitched binding, and handmade covers crafted from the backs of my coloring books.
My passion for storytelling only grew. Early fiction led to poetry and short stories, and after emigrating from Argentina to the U.S., I began writing non-fiction to help Latinos navigate the path to success. My books, published by Sourcebooks and Penguin Random House, became bestsellers and garnered awards, earning me national media attention on topics ranging from education and job search to career development and leadership.
My book Find Your Inner Red Shoes sparked the launch of the Red Shoe Movement, a leadership development company and global community focused on mutual support for career success.
In recent years, I’ve returned to my first love—fiction—writing novels and short stories in Spanish. In 2025, I published The Postcard, my first novel originally written in English. It was inspired by a secret I read on PostSecret.com that haunted me for years: “Everyone who knew me before 9/11 believes I’m dead.” That single line became the seed for a gripping novel about loss, identity, and reinvention.
I still hope the person who submitted that secret reaches out—and shares the real story.
It all started with a birthday gift: a book from my beloved Oma. And then another, and another—for every birthday that followed. From Anne of Green Gables to The Chronicles of Narnia and Heidi, I devoured novels and soon felt inspired to write my own.
At nine, not yet able to use a typewriter, I handwrote my first series of novels on large, unlined orange sheets of paper my father—an orthopedic surgeon—brought home from the hospital. These sheets, meant to separate X-ray films, became the canvas for my diagonally written stories, complete with illustrations, stitched binding, and handmade covers crafted from the backs of my coloring books.
My passion for storytelling only grew. Early fiction led to poetry and short stories, and after emigrating from Argentina to the U.S., I began writing non-fiction to help Latinos navigate the path to success. My books, published by Sourcebooks and Penguin Random House, became bestsellers and garnered awards, earning me national media attention on topics ranging from education and job search to career development and leadership.
My book Find Your Inner Red Shoes sparked the launch of the Red Shoe Movement, a leadership development company and global community focused on mutual support for career success.
In recent years, I’ve returned to my first love—fiction—writing novels and short stories in Spanish. In 2025, I published The Postcard, my first novel originally written in English. It was inspired by a secret I read on PostSecret.com that haunted me for years: “Everyone who knew me before 9/11 believes I’m dead.” That single line became the seed for a gripping novel about loss, identity, and reinvention.
I still hope the person who submitted that secret reaches out—and shares the real story.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
September 24, 2025
I had to sit with my thoughts for a few days after finishing this book. First off, let me say it was written beautifully. This was my first book by this author, and I literally could not put it down. I love the cover and have already purchased my physical copy!
There were moments I felt could have moved a bit faster, the planning of the visit home and the anticipation of what was going to happen felt drawn out at times. But when I reflect on the story as a whole, I realize it needed that pacing to build the impact.
Even days later, I still don’t know exactly how I feel about the events that unfolded. I won’t go into the storyline because I personally went in blind without even reading the synopsis, and I’m so glad I did. Experiencing the story without expectations gave me the full effect of every twist and turn.
The author’s ability to describe scenes and craft dialogue is simply awesome. I could picture every moment and felt like a fly on the wall, feeling everything. The book is told in three parts, and when the first switch happened, I wasn’t sure I’d like it. But it turned out to be exactly what the story needed. Part 3...FLOORED ME...I didn't see that coming!!! Phenomenal Twist.
This book took me through every emotion imaginable. It touches on family, the bond of twins, grief, secrets, depression, life choices, betrayal, anger, deep sadness, and love. That’s why I’m still struggling to put into words how much I loved it. I found myself furious about many of the events, yet at the same time completely captivated. It felt real, like these things could absolutely happen.
My first reaction was to give it 4 stars, but the fact that I’m still thinking about it days later speaks volumes. It deserves all the stars. This story will stay with me for a long time, and I can even see myself rereading it in the future. Honestly, I wish there were a sequel. I wasn’t ready for it to end where it did, but I get it.
I highly recommend The Postcard, though I will warn that it isn’t always an easy read. It tackles sensitive topics and events that could be triggering.
There were moments I felt could have moved a bit faster, the planning of the visit home and the anticipation of what was going to happen felt drawn out at times. But when I reflect on the story as a whole, I realize it needed that pacing to build the impact.
Even days later, I still don’t know exactly how I feel about the events that unfolded. I won’t go into the storyline because I personally went in blind without even reading the synopsis, and I’m so glad I did. Experiencing the story without expectations gave me the full effect of every twist and turn.
The author’s ability to describe scenes and craft dialogue is simply awesome. I could picture every moment and felt like a fly on the wall, feeling everything. The book is told in three parts, and when the first switch happened, I wasn’t sure I’d like it. But it turned out to be exactly what the story needed. Part 3...FLOORED ME...I didn't see that coming!!! Phenomenal Twist.
This book took me through every emotion imaginable. It touches on family, the bond of twins, grief, secrets, depression, life choices, betrayal, anger, deep sadness, and love. That’s why I’m still struggling to put into words how much I loved it. I found myself furious about many of the events, yet at the same time completely captivated. It felt real, like these things could absolutely happen.
My first reaction was to give it 4 stars, but the fact that I’m still thinking about it days later speaks volumes. It deserves all the stars. This story will stay with me for a long time, and I can even see myself rereading it in the future. Honestly, I wish there were a sequel. I wasn’t ready for it to end where it did, but I get it.
I highly recommend The Postcard, though I will warn that it isn’t always an easy read. It tackles sensitive topics and events that could be triggering.
December 28, 2025
This is a well written book about a fascinating concept. I kept wondering, how many people actually did what the main character did? It is not that far fetched. Dispirit people do dispirit things.
Having grown up in New York, and having spent many memorable moments at the Twin Towers, the events of 9/11 hit me very hard. Like the generation before me would ask "Where were you when Pearl Harbor was attacked?" my generation says "Where were you on 9/11?" This book pays a beautiful tribute to that day and the aftermath.
The conversations, the retelling of events, and after, the pain and hurt, the characters and their motives are clearly defined.
A few things I did not like about the book:
The formatting was all over the place and I found it distracting.
The book also needs some major editing.
Finally, and this is just a personal choice, I like a full Table of Content, where each chapter is listed and shows how many pages are in each chapter.
Over all this is a very well written book. It's emotional and character driven. I would defiantly read more by this author.
Having grown up in New York, and having spent many memorable moments at the Twin Towers, the events of 9/11 hit me very hard. Like the generation before me would ask "Where were you when Pearl Harbor was attacked?" my generation says "Where were you on 9/11?" This book pays a beautiful tribute to that day and the aftermath.
The conversations, the retelling of events, and after, the pain and hurt, the characters and their motives are clearly defined.
A few things I did not like about the book:
The formatting was all over the place and I found it distracting.
The book also needs some major editing.
Finally, and this is just a personal choice, I like a full Table of Content, where each chapter is listed and shows how many pages are in each chapter.
Over all this is a very well written book. It's emotional and character driven. I would defiantly read more by this author.
September 6, 2025
Wow! Is what I said when I finished this book. I picked it because I thought I could really relate to it. This is the first “Historical Fiction” book I’ve read about 9/11 which I was around for and it moved me greatly. I also have a twin sister so I could relate to that part, too. Highly recommend this to those who were around and remember 9/11/01.
June 6, 2025
Truth in the age of aftershocks
Set against the long echoes of 9/11, this novel doesn’t exploit the tragedy—it humanizes its legacy through private sorrow and strength. Completely relatable. A perfect summer read.
Set against the long echoes of 9/11, this novel doesn’t exploit the tragedy—it humanizes its legacy through private sorrow and strength. Completely relatable. A perfect summer read.
July 18, 2025
Very different
I couldn't conceive of such a story. I really wondered how it would end. What a difficult choice no.matter which way it went.
The formatting needs some work.
I couldn't conceive of such a story. I really wondered how it would end. What a difficult choice no.matter which way it went.
The formatting needs some work.
October 14, 2025
Intriguing concept, told from 3 different points of view. All about emotional pain and love and loss and belonging and trust. Did not have the ending I would have chosen, though.
November 6, 2025
Rather unrealistc. I hope so! The premise just seemed so off. Without spoilers I’ll just say I hated the ending. A good read but you want to yell at the characters. I’m glad they’re not my family.
December 28, 2025
A good book with many twists and turns. One of family heartache, loss, love and an ending you don't expect. Probably a topic that occurs more often than really discussed.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews